Special Educational Needs: support in England
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system. Updated with new 2024-25 SEND incidence and EHC plan data

House of Commons Library briefing on NHS charges.
NHS charges (370 KB , PDF)
This paper sets out the basis for various NHS charges. It covers exemption criteria and explains variations in the devolved nations. The paper examines recent changes to NHS charges, including the introduction of a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescription prepayment certificate in 2023. It also discusses proposed changes to the charging regime, such as increasing the qualifying age for free prescriptions to align with State Pension age and calls to extend the list of medical exemptions from prescription charges.
The National Health Service Act 1946, which set up the NHS in England and Wales, contained a provision that NHS services should be provided free of charge unless that Act expressly provided for a charge. This provision has been carried forward into the legislation which replaced the 1946 Act – the NHS Act 1977and subsequently the NHS Act 2006.
Since the founding of the NHS, amendments have been made to allow charges for NHS services including prescription, dental and optical charges.
In the context of financial pressure on the NHS, there have been calls for the introduction of additional charges for services, such as GP appointments. There have also been calls to extend free prescriptions, for example to include a wider list of long term conditions for which people are eligible for free prescriptions.
There are separate Library briefings on NHS charges for overseas visitors and NHS hospital car parking charges.
NHS charges (370 KB , PDF)
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system. Updated with new 2024-25 SEND incidence and EHC plan data
The Rare Cancers Bill 2024-2025 had its second reading on Friday 14 March 2025. It was considered in Public Bill Committee on 2 July 2025 and report stage is scheduled for 11 July 2025. This is a private members' bill.
This briefing focuses on two disease-modifying dementia drugs that are currently being appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): lecanemab and donanemab